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29 June 1942
NOTE to VIEWERS: The information contained in these Mission Narratives is based primarily on the chronological histories of Jack McKillop's "USAAF Combat Chronology" c. 1955 and of Roger A. Freeman's "Mighty Eighth War Diary" c. 1981 both of which were...

12 July 1942
6 A-20 Boston III are borrowed from 226 Squadron RAF and flown by American pilots of the 8th Air Force, 15th Bombardment Squadron to attack the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France.

09 August 1942
2 Spitfire Mk V from 31st Fighter Group are despatched on a defensive fighter patrol. 11 Spitfire Mk V from 31st Fighter Group are despatched to fly top cover on a feint "Rodeo" to Dieppe, France. A "Rodeo" is the RAF code name for a fighter sweep over...

12 August 1942
13 Spitfire Mk V from 31st Fighter Group are despateched on a feint "Rodeo" in a wide loop over Clacton/dunkirk/Calaise and Dover. A "Rodeo" is the RAF code name for a fighter sweep over enemy territory.

17 August 1942
The US 8AF launches its first strategic bombing raid of the war, sending 12 Boeing B-17Es of the 97BG on a strike against the railyards of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, while another six fly a diversionary route. The attacking force is split into two...

18 August 1942
Fighter operations conducted by 31st Fighter Group using Spitfire aircraft: 13 despatched on "Circus 9"; 12 despatched on a patrol of the French coast; and 11 despatched to make a fighter sweep over the Dieppe/Etretat, France area. A "Circus" is the...

19 August 1942
Bombers from 97th Bombardment Group are despatched to bomb the German airfield Drucat at Abbeville, France. This mission is flown to occupy the Luftwaffe and to try to prevent them from opposing the invasion of Dieppe, France by over 5,000 allied...

19 August 1942
31st Fighter Group despatches 123 Spitfires in support of the landings at Dieppe, France. 8 are lost. These are the first operations of VIII Fighter Command units under VIII Fighter Command control....

20 August 1942
Bombers from 97BG are despatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens/Longeau, France. 12 Spitfires from 31st Fighter Group provide escort. 31st Fighter Group also despatches Spitfires on diversions and for an RAF Lysander on Air Sea Rescue...

21 August 1942
97BG despatches 12 B-17s on a mission to bomb the shipyards and harbour facilities at Rotterdam, Holland. The mission is aborted when attacked by approximately 25 Bf-109 and Fw-190 fighter aircraft. Spitfire aircraft were despatched by 31FG as escorts...

28 August 1942
31FG despatches Spitfires for: A diversion for the bombers making the attack on Meault, France; fighter sweep of areas near Meault, France; in support fro the RAF Tangmere Wing; and patrol over Selsey Bill, UK.

26 September 1942
97BG and 301BG together despatch 45 B-17s to bomb the German airfields of Maupertus near Cherbourg and Porjeau at Morlaix, France. 301BG is recalled because the fighter escort of p-38s from 1FG is recalled. The 97BG aborts the mission over the Bay of...

26 September 1942
14 aircraft and pilots took off from Great Sampford for Bolthead, Devonshire, landing there at 1230 hours. At 1350 hours and after a very sketchy briefing, 12 aircraft of the Squadron took off together with 401 with orders to make rendezvous with a...

02 October 1942
1FG despatches 31 P-38s to escort bombers attacking the aircraft factory at Meaulte, France, sustaining one loss. 1FG also despatches 34 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 52FG despatches 7 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 4FG...

02 October 1942
97BG and 301BG together despatch 43 B-17s to bomb the Avion Portez aircraft factory ar Meaulte, France; 97BG also despatches 6 B-17s to attack the German airfield Longuenesse at St. Omer, France which is intended as a diversion to the main attack at...

09 October 1942
Bombers are dispatched to bomb the steel and engineering works of the Compagnie de Fives at Lille, France and the locomotive and freight car works of Ateliers d'Hellemmes at Lille which are the Primary (P) targets. Other targets are Courtrai Airfield,...

21 October 1942
German U-Boat pens are Lorient, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission along with the German airfield at Cherbourg, France. 93BG despatches 24-B-24s to Lorient, but cloud cover prevents them from bombing. The main attack force to Lorient...